‘Lobby’ for a Good Time

Looking for impressive size and surprising intimacy? Get your mind out of the gutter and head to Lobby Bar

The centerpiece of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spais far from an ordinary hotel lounge. Dual staircases bookend the 25-foot-long water wall cascading over stone and glass mosaic designs. Descend into the bar area and become enraptured by the 30,000-square-foot atrium that puts Hollywood’s W Hotel to shame.

Large light shades overhead illuminate the exposed hallways that double as balconies. These draw the eye upward as guests escape to their rooms. The expansiveness begs your inner voyeur to come and play. The glow of inviting yellows and oranges pulls you closer to your partner or that special person you will meet as the night progresses.

Lobby Bar’s grand architecture towers overhead, but the action unfolds on the lower decks. A diverse younger crowd mingles around the bar, flirts at cozy cocktail tables, and cuddles in pairs on the big, comfy chairs and sofas. Need an excuse to make a move? Kick off a night of mischief with the Mumm Napa raspberry bellini.

Wind past the lounge area and sidle up to the adjacent sushi bar, or go down another flight of stairs to the boat dock for additional fun. Enjoy a wine tasting on the dock or book a boat tour of the lake. Just leave your scuba gear and “Steve Zissou” beanie at home.

Lobby Bar sports classy, clandestine meetings, bachelorette shenanigans, and celebrities knocking back a few after a friend’s wedding. One patron even raved, “It makes for an interesting time because you never know who you’ll meet.”